Day 4- Anita Graduates!

We begin the main day for the whole reason we are here. The four of us stop at Carlos bar down the street to sit outside and have breakfast.

My choice of something for consumption has to be potato in nature in order to soak up the delicious beverages from last nights fun adventure and of course coffee with a glass of water.

In Spain, when ordering water at a restaurant it’s served in a glass container. You can get it as two options, “con gas” or “sin gas,” with or without carbonation.

We head back to the apartment to start getting ready for the graduation which starts at 5pm.

A classmate comes by to ride with Anita as we catch another ride a few minutes behind them.

The three amigos arrive to the graduation location and step out into a sea of people. Two thousand bodies have applied, worked hard, and will now be receiving their MBA degrees in various studies.

We enter the auditorium and see 5 large screens a top of a very long stage. They are also broadcasting this event live all over the world so friends and loved ones who couldn’t make it can watch.

Graduates with their cap and gowns stand in the back and await their long anticipated diplomas.

Since Anita’s degree is a Global MBA she been fortunate enough to meet and network with people all over the world. My new friend Laura from Uganda sits next to me as her fiancé is also in the sea of graduates anxiously waiting.

I feel so fortunate along this journey I’ve been able to meet so many wonderful people and myself made meaningful connections with folks who live all around the world. Both sides extend invitations to visit each other whenever possible: Kenya, Canada, Peru, and Columbia just to name a few.

This event was well done and felt more like an Oscars awards ceremony instead of a graduation. A live band plays to the right of the stage and piping upbeat music throughout the venue keeps the crowd and graduates going.

After the ceremony, the graduates, family, and friends head outside to tables serving a variety of wine and tapas for the next hour or two.

We hail a cab and head back to the apartment to get ready for the 1am-5am special party at club Teatro Barcelo.

Grabbing a VIP table upstairs, everyone begins to celebrate our old and new friends accomplishments.

I can safely say I’ve never partied this much even when I was in my twenties. However, I don’t think I would have appreciated living in those moments then as much as I do now that I’m older.

As everyone dances the night away, you can tell the vibe is much different. Everyone’s stress is over. School is done!

We leave the club at 6am and watch the sun come up over the buildings. This was another first.

We schedule an Uber and head back.

Anita heads to bed as the three us head out to find breakfast before we lay our heads down as well. This is definitely a trip I will never forget.

Congratulations my friend, you earned it!